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Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921

Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana



Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

A poem captured my attention the other day.

Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget

Falls drop by drop upon the heart,

Until, in our own despair,

Against our will,

Comes wisdom

Through the awful grace of God.

Aeschylus


What's on your mind today?






Quill 2024 Nominee






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January 17, 2026 at 11:43pm
January 17, 2026 at 11:43pm
#1106238


Mercy sakes - it has been a long time. I've been busy, as I am sure everyone is.

The last event I had happened just this last week. I am in the beginning testing for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and their research into Parkinson's disease. I currently do NOT have this problem. But perhaps I may be chosen to be part of their monitoring. We'll see what happens.

I am happy to help in any way to find the reason for this disease. I know of two people that have/had this. One person was decades ago. Another is a friend's husband in town.

I answered a survey I received by email, then was sent a questionnaire. I filled that out. Then I received an interesting test - a smell test. Curious little invention. There was a series of booklets, each having scratch and sniff squares on a number of pages. You had to guess the scent on each square. I mailed that back, and in a few months received another. Then take some timed cognitive tests on the computer. THEN they contacted me about doing this research.

Last week I went to Aurora, CO for actual in-person testing. The organization flew me there, provided a hotel and a driver to take me around. I got a per diem for food and whatevers. Then I did bloodwork, 10 tubes, a neurologist exam, more questions then I had a lumbar puncture test.

Ever had that lumbar puncture test done? Well, I have. It's not horribly painful, but no fun nonetheless. But I guess sticking a needle into your spinal column is not a normal event. The doctor performing the test was kind, took great care to do this with as little pain as possible.

I did ask him when was the first lumbar puncture ever performed. He honestly didn't know, but told me he'd look up that history. I did and it was back in 1890 or so. The key is not to sit up immediately, or you'll get a bad headache. That has also happened to me in the past.

Seems there are a few interesting facts about beginning the diagnosis of this disease. Sense of smell is a clue, and acting out dreams or sleep disturbances.

Now that I'm back home, I will change a few things about my diet. I will try to cut back on caffeine. I figure it can't hurt, might help. In many ways.

There is now controversy about a tourism grant idea. The lady in charge of this was at the commissioners meeting yesterday. She is like a bulldog with this concept, and still will not consider the museum being in any way a draw for tourists. So annoying. She wants to build onto the city pool a water slide. The city, last I heard, is not a big fan of the project, due to increased costs like maintenance and insurance.

But this person, whose first name is also Norma, is sure this will be a done deal. $1.5 million. But she only has until January 22 to file the claim. And from what I heard, really she knows nothing about filling out the paperwork or what it all entails as to the immense amount of paperwork going forward.

Another person and I tried to get the museum to be a part of all this. But she shot us down, and then we decided to withdraw our plans. So now we need to find another way to fund a $1.5 million project we had developed.

It should be interesting. But then, life these days is certainly NOT boring.



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